what book you reading at the moment? (incl poll)

[Matlock]

I usually leave my phone in another room or out of reach if I’m reading.

Same.

I set a goal at the start of the year to read 30 books this year. Doing it with a friend to keep myself honest!

 

[Blue Jasmin]

I usually leave my book in the other room if I'm on my phone arguing with strangers on the langer forum.

 

[Stromovka]

I had to abandon 75% of the way through. The Japanese thought processes are different than the western world. Extremely simplistic things can take over their whole life and the woman in this book works for a job temp agency on monthly contracts where in one job she spent the month watching CCTV camera footage of a suspected criminal who spent his whole day in his apartment watching TV and eating takeaway deliveries. Another months work she spent writing one-line ditties on the inserts of Japanese fortune type cookies. I had to give up before I topped myself with boredom. It was the graphic on the cover that attracted me in the first place. It says to me: Just give up".

 

[King Silkbeard]

One of my books arrived today, very happy about that.

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

I'm right back in the maritime blood, guts, and obsession with Ahab, Ishmael, Starbuck, Stubb, Flask and Queequeg in Moby Dick. It must be the ninth or tenth time I've read it and like Tolstoy or Joyce, it gives up a new experience each time. £7.99 for the Penguin Classics Edition in 1988 and I still have it - some value for money.

For a long read heavily influenced by the styles of Homer, Shakespeare, Milton and the old testament, it's a real tribute to Melville that he keeps the reader gripped throughout the 135 chapters. A true epic.

Meanwhile, I was on a job last month up near Gardiner's Hill and called into the local institution that is McSweeny's shop for a cup of tea. Sat outside, they had a few old books on the table where you sup your beverage. I pulled this one out of the heap, read a few pages and bought it off of Mrs McSweeny for €1. A grand old read - a page-turner with a lot more sophistication than your usual "Cowboy" books. Meyer is no Cormac McCarthy, but this one has me now definitely looking out for his other one - "American Rust"

 

[Matlock]

"The mess we're in"- Annie McManus

Story of a young woman from Dublin moving to London and hanging around the music scene there. Fairly autobiographical I would assume. It's a convincing read, and the writing is nice.

I probably won't remember it in a year, but it impressed me enough to get me to buy her other novel.

6/10

 

[Chara021]

Just Finished ' Water' by John Boyne. Enjoyed it very much. Beautifully atmospheric and I loved the setting and the characters.

It's a short book so not too drawn out. Subject matter is deep , emotional but I thought very well done.

I did raise an eyebrow at one aspect of the book regarding the main characters ' sex' interest. But I guess that's what happens when a man writes as a woman. ?.

All in all a very nice read.

 

[Matlock]

Just Finished ' Water' by John Boyne. Enjoyed it very much. Beautifully atmospheric and I loved the setting and the characters.

It's a short book so not too drawn out. Subject matter is deep , emotional but I thought very well done.

I did raise an eyebrow at one aspect of the book regarding the main characters ' sex' interest. But I guess that's what happens when a man writes as a woman. ?.

All in all a very nice read.

The second installment "Earth" is really good too.

 

[Chara021]

The second installment "Earth" is really good too.

Yes I only realised there are more books. Part of a series I think.
Water, Earth, Fire ,Air. Something like that.
Definitely will read Earth next.

 

[King Silkbeard]

Reading a history of Serbia, really interesting all about the Balkans & early Chritianity the wars with the Ottomans. Prior to that read a nice short book about the Mali Empire also good.